Adrianna Rodriguez

Name: Adrianna Rodriguez MS, NCC, LPC Associate | Zessio
Uploaded: 2023-05-24T11:56:55-05:00
Description: Specialty: Trauma, Cultural Identity, Body Image, First/Second Gen Exhaustion & Burnout, Familial Invalidation

MS, NCC, LPC Associate

Cultural Refuge Counseling is created for individuals who want to break free from cultural or familial expectations. In every family, there is an unspoken set of rules to be followed and perhaps pressure to uphold the family name by following said rules. When family values do not align with personal values or intersecting identities, conflict arises and seeps into different parts of your life. You may feel labeled as the black sheep or outsider because you do not follow the same path as your family before you. There is hope and you do not need to walk this path alone.

Specialty: Trauma, Cultural Identity, Body Image, First/Second Gen Exhaustion & Burnout, Familial Invalidation.

Q&A

If you could pick a day full of activities just for yourself, what would they be?

I would start my day with an iced chai and take a morning walk with my dog Sammy. I will absolutely take a peak at my garden and harvest what I can. I would fill the rest of it with a massage, playing some cozy games and throwing some clay on a pottery wheel and ending the day with a tasty meal.

What drove you to want to be a clinician?

I always knew I wanted to be a therapist since I was in middle school. I had a chaotic upbringing and didn’t want others to feel so alone. When I went to college I was able to reflect on how much my culture, family and upbringing shaped by worldview. I thought there are probably so many people who feel the same way who suffer in silence and I wanted to make a positive change or impact in someone’s life.

How do you practice self-care?

I practice self-care by consistently checking in with myself emotionally, mentally and physically. For me, self care isn’t about getting massages, although they are nice. For me, it’s about structure, accountability and consistency in my life.

How did/does your own identity influence your job as a clinician?

My identity as a Latinx therapist helps create trust with clients who may be hesitant to receive help from the mental health system. Being raised in a Hispanic household, I understand the cultural factors that influence our individual and family system.

What do you hope each client will gain after working with you?

I hope each client leaves feeling validated, empowered and has a better relationship with themselves.

What are some of your favorite bands, shows, books, plays, sports, etc.?

I love old Grey’s Anatomy S1-10, celebrity ghost stories or anything true crime related. I love all kinds of music, especially anything froms 90/00s, but my favorite band would be Randy Rogers Band and Bahamas. My favorite video game is N64 Zelda: Ocarina of Time and the current Breathe of the Wild.

What is your goal as you work with clients? How do you determine goals for clients?

I collaborate with my clients because I do not believe I hold all the answers. We will work together to see what their needs are and how we can sustainably achieve them. I check in with my clients from time to time to see what’s working and what isn’t.

What can you do today that you maybe couldn't do a year ago?

A year ago, I was scared to be seen authentically for fear of judgement, especially when it came to my practice. I have learned to be more compassionate to myself.

What do you hope are some of the biggest takeaways your clients get from your work together?

That they can find balance between individual and collective wellbeing when it comes to cultural/family influence. It may not always be comfortable but necessary when it comes to growth.

Adrianna Rodriguez
MS, NCC, LPC Associate

Direct Contacts

Questions?

Email [email protected] for additional assistance.

Are Zessions like a therapy session?

While the main similarity between Zessions and therapy sessions is a focused conversation, Zessions are broader conversations not specific to a client and a therapist. In Zessions, experienced clinicians discuss a mental health challenge and talk through the way they would process it with clients and how they would aim to help. Just as change can take place during a therapy session by hearing things you’ve never considered, new meaning can be found by hearing how others consider and work through a commonly shared problem.

Do I have to start therapy with you to access these resources?

No. Workshops, Courses, and Zessions are all supplemental resources Zessio Partners are able to offer to those wanting to empower themselves on their mental health journey. These resources are psychoeducational which means they are created to provide information and support to better understand and cope with mental health challenges. Learning about what may influence your own experience can help you begin to learn how to take action with potential next steps for your mental health care. If you connect with the Zessio Partner’s approach you there are additional ways to connect.

What is the difference between a course and a workshop?

Courses are created to be pre-recorded so you are able to access them at any time in the Zessio Library.. Courses can be part of your ongoing practice to check in with and care for your mental health. Workshops may have similar content to courses but they have the added possibility of live interaction with real-time Q&A with the leading Zessio Partner. Workshops are recorded so they are easily accessible in the Zessio Library to view at a later time.

Connect on Zessio

Join me on Zessio along with other mental health professionals to access mental health resources at your pace.